All New Orleans residents who need help will be picked up at sites, regardless of whether they registered with 311

City officials announced Friday morning that all New Orleans residents will have access to mass transit services to assist with an evacuation regardless of whether they have registered with the city's 311 information hotline.

The city also announced that it has added a fourth toll-free number that residents can call to reach city operators, after receiving many complaints that its 311 system had become overwhelmed.

Residents now can call 866.205.6485 in addition to 311, 877.286.6431 and 800.981.6652. All lines ring the same call center.

Looking to beat back rumors circulating as Tropical Storm Gustav takes aim at the Louisiana coast, Julie Schwam-Harris, an aide to Mayor Ray Nagin, said that any resident who needs help fleeing the city will be allowed on buses at the 17 evacuation sites located around the city -- even if they haven't signed up with 311.

Schwam-Harris said that "pre-registration helps us gauge the need and speeds the processing" but does not preclude anyone from seeking help with an evacuation.

From the 17 sites, state-chartered motor coaches and Amtrak trains would take residents to shelters in north Louisiana and Tennessee.

Residents who need help getting from their homes to the 17 gathering sites, however, must call City Hall to request a ride, which will be provided by para-transit vans and ambulances on contract with the city. To sign up for New Orleans' city-assisted evacuation plan, residents should call 311, 877.286.6431, 800.981.6652 or 866.205.6485.

Despite that instruction, however, phones lines at City Hall appear to have been jammed over the past several days, prompting howls from community organizations trying to help the most fragile residents plan for evacuation.

City officials acknowledged Thursday that operators receiving calls at 311 and the toll-free numbers have been overwhelmed. They said they have diverted more phones lines from inside City Hall to handle the swell.